TNAG-2757-FCO40-3974-Hong-Kong-customs-arrangements-and-conventions-1993 — Page 79

7 November 1991

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Foreign & Commonwealth

Office

Mr G Spain

International Divison

HM Customs & Excise

Customs Directorate Division

1B Dorset House

Stamford Street

LONDON

SE1 9PS

London SWIA 2AH

Telephone: 071-

Don the Spain.

UK/HONG KONG MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ON GENERAL CUSTOMS MATTERS

Further to our telephone conversation of today, I write to confirm that we see no difficulty with a UK/Hong Kong MOU on customs matters.

This period is a sensitive time for Hong Kong. Confidence was badly hit by the events in China in June 1989 but has gradually recovered since then. The Government are committed to maintaining confidence in the terrority, and the Prime Minister's visit to China and Hong Kong in September opened a new phase in our relations. I note that excellent co-operation already exists between HM Customs & Excise, and the Hong Kong Customs and Excise. It would be helpful to Hong Kong if this working relationship could be incorporated into a Memorandum of Understanding, which would help to maintain the relationship up to the transition in 1997. Kong's continuance as a separate customs territory after 1997 is, of course, a fundamental provision of the Joint Declaration. MOUS of this nature send a helpful signal.

Hong

If you decide to respond positively to the Hong Kong proposal, I would be grateful if you could let this department know, at which time we will pass details to the UK Representative to the Joint Liaison Group in Hong Kong, who can consider whether the Chinese should be informed (although as the MOU would not involve binding rights or obligations beyond 1997 there is no formal requirement to do so).

Your Sirianley

Икрете

T Furness

Hong Kong Department

PIGABZ

CC

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